Whipstock



Jan. 18, 1938; c. c. CUTRER Ag. 2,105,721

WHIPSTOCK Filed June 4, 1935 l SMQ/MQ.

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Smart/"Mg Patented Jan. is, 193s UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE WB'IPSTOCK Application June 4, 1935, Serlal'No. 24,960

12 Claims.

This invention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly to a means for deecting a hole or straightening a crooked hole in the ground. Y i An object of this invention is to provide a whipstock which is adapted to be secured to an end of the drill and drill stem so that the drill may move past an obstruction in the well which is of such a character that it cannot be withdrawn therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is initially xed to the drill stem above the drill or bit and which may be released from the drill stem and operate as a guide means therefor in order to permit the drilling of a loi-passage around an obstruction in the well or opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a whipstock which is so constructed that 2O after the stem of the drill has been released from the whipstock body, the entire body may be turned within the well opening to re-position the body or for any other purpose.

A `still further object of this invention is to` provide a device of this character which includes a pair of frangble means, one of which is initially adapted to hold the drill stem against rotation within a guide eye and the other of which is to dispose a second guide eye at the lower portion of the whipstock body so that rotation of the drill will not injure the whipstock body.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understood from the.

following detail description of the present preferred embodiment,`the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly in section of a device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, -the numeral II) designates generally an elongated body which tapers longitudinally, being provided at its lower end with a blade or point I3. Preferably, this body I0 is substantially round in transverse section and is provided with a fiat face II having a, T-shaped guide channel I2, extending longitudinally thereof. This guide channel i2 terminates at a point spaced downwardly from the upper end of the elongated body II) and a second guide channel I4 of similar construction is disposed in the body I0 and terminates at its lower end at a point spaced upwardly from the upper end of the lower or elongated channel I2 5 and the upper end of the upper guide channel I4 terminates at a point spaced downwardly from the upper end of the body II). A slide I5 having a guide eye I6 is slidably disposed in the upper guide channel I4 and is movable longitul0 dinally ofthe guide channel.

'I'he stem portion I 'I of a drill or drill rod loosely extends through the eye I6 of the guide member I 5 and initially this stem I'I is xed relative to the eye I6 by means of a frangible .15 pin I8. This pin I8 may be either driven or threaded into the eye I 6 and the stem I1.

A second guide member I9 is slidable in the lower guide channel I2 and is provided with an eye 20 which rotatably receives the stem I'I and '20 the stem I1 at a point closely adjacent the upper edge of the guide eye 20 has a frangible pin 2|. As shown in the drawing, the guide channel I2 is inclined to the at face portion II of the body Ill so that in the event the body III be 25 disposed in substantially a vertical position in the well opening, the guide member Iii-20 will move at an angle to the vertical and thus move the drill bit 22 away from the obstruction in the well. The guide member I9 may have a relav30 tively snug t in the guide channel I2 so that y the eye 20 will not readily slide downwardly when the device is being inserted into a well opening or pipe. In this manner the looking means hereinafter described carried by the eye and the 35 drill will not prevent rotation of the drillstem during the time that the drill is moving downwardly with respect to the body I0.

A collar or sleeve 23 is secured to the stem I1 at a point closely adjacent the upper end of the 40 bit 22 and is provided with teeth or projections 24 on the upper side thereof. These teeth or projections 24 are adapted to engage teeth or projections 25 on the lower side of the guide eye 20 when the device is being withdrawn from the well. As the stem II is being pulled upwardly with the body I0 stationary in the well, the toothed sleeve 23 will contact with the toothed eye 20 so that the body I 0 will not rotate rel- 50 ative to they stem I'I and so that, if desired, the entire body may be turned relative to the lower portion of the well or that portion adjacent the obstruction.

ln. the use and operation of this device, the 55 longitudinal face on one side and provided with body I is initially iixedly secured to the stem I1 by inserting the stem I1 through the guide eyes I6 and 2G. The upper frangible pin I8 is secured to the eye I6 and the stem I1 so that the eye I6 cannot move relative to the stem I1. The lower frangible pin 2I is secured in the stem I1 adjacent the upper edge of the eye 20. The drill rod with the bit 22 and the body I0 is then inserted in the well opening until the point I3 contacts' with the projection. The point I3 will permit the body I0 to initially be inclined relative to the vertical unless the obstruction is such that the body l0 will remain in the vertical position. The weight of the drill rod stem I1 is sufficient to break the pin I8.

At this time the slide I5 will be at the lowermost limit of the guide channel I4. The action of breaking the pin I8 will drive the point I3 tightly into the lower portion of the well so that the body IU will be tightly engaged within the well opening` at the bottom thereof. When the pin I8 is broken, the drill stem I1 may be rotated and the bit 22 moved downwardly along the inclined face II of the body I0. The frangible pin 2| will cause the lower guide member I9--20 to move downwardly in therlower elongated guide channel I2 and will keep the bit 22 away from the flat face II of the body I0 so that this bit 22 will not cut into the body I0 and thus injure the body, and will also prevent whipping of the bit 22.

When the guide I9-20 is at the bottom of the guide channel I2, further rotation and movement of the stem I3 will break the .frangible pin 2l so that the bit 22 on the stem I1 may be moved to the desired depth past the obstruction in the well.

After the bit 22 has been drilled to the desired depth past the obstruction, the bit 22 and the stem I1 may be raised and in this operation, the body Il! will initially be stationary. When the toothed collar 23 engages the guide member III- 20, this guide will move upwardly to the upper end of the guide channel I2. At this time, the rotation of the stem I1 may be stopped and the stem pulled upwardly until the guide I 9-20, engages the upper end of the guide channel I2. In the event, the body I0 is driven tightly into the ground so that straight upward movement of the stem I1 will not release the body III, the stem I1 may be turned or oscllated back and forth with the toothed collar 23 engaging the teeth 25 of the guide eye 20. When the teeth 24 engage the teeth 25, the reciprocation or partial turning in either direction of the stem I1 will effect a similar turning movement to the body Ill so that the body may be readily withdrawn from the well.

. It is', of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modications being restricted only by the Scope of the following claims.

l. A device as set forth comprising a body insertable in a well opening having an inclined a guide channel, a slide in said channel and a sleeve secured to said slide and loosely engaging about the stem of a drill to hold the drill in spaced relation to the inclined face.

2, In combination With a drill bit and drill stem, an elongated body provided with an inclined face on one side thereof and provided with an elongated body provided with a guide channel disposed at an angle to one face of the body, a slide engaging in said channel, an eye carried by said slide and loosely engaging about the drill stem and a frangible pin holding the eye and the,

stem against movement relative to each other.

4. In combination with a drill and a drill stem, an elongated body provided with an inclined face on one side thereof and with a guide channel in said one side, a second guide channel alining with said first guide channel, a pair of guides disposed one in each guide channel and frangible means engaging at least one of said guides to hold the drill stem against movement relative to said one guide.

5. A device as set forth comprising a body having a reduced lower end portion, said body having an elongated guide channel terminating at a point spaced downwardly from the upper end thereof, said body also having a second guide channel substantially shorter than the rst guide channel and substantially alining with said rst guide channel, a pair of slides disposed one in each guide channel and frangible means engageable with one of the guides and with a member extending through the guides to hold the member against movement relative to said one guide.

6. A device as set forth comprising an elongated body provided with a longitudinally extending guide channel terminating at a point spaced downwardly from the upper end of the body, a second guide channel substantially alining -with the first guide channel and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of slides disposed one in each guide channel and a pair of drill stem engaging eyes carried one by each guide.

'1. In combination with a drill bit and a drill stem, an elongated body provided with a longitudinally extending guide channel and a second guide channel substantially alining with the first guide channel, a pair of vslides disposed one in each guide channel, an eye carried by each slide and loosely engaging about the drill stem, a`

8. In combination with a drill bit and a drill stem, an elongated body provided with a lower elongated guide channel and an upper relatively short guide channel, a pair of slides disposed one in each guide channel, an eye carried by each slide and loosely engaging about the drill stem, a frangible pin engaging the upper eye and also engaging the drill stem to initially'hold the drill stem against rotation and longitudinal movement relative to said upper eye, a second frangible pin secured to the drill stem above the other eye whereby rotation of the drill stem coactive with longitudinal movement thereof relative to the body will move the other guide longitudinally of its guide channel and coacting means carried by the drill stem and the lower eye to effect rotation of the eye and the body when the drill stem is being withdrawn from the well opening.

9. A device as set forth comprising an elongated body provided with an inclined face on one side thereof and with a guide channel in said one side, a slide engaging in said channel, an eye secured to the slide and frangible means engageable with the eye and with a dn'll stem disposed in the eye to hold the eye against movement relative to the stem.

10. In combination, a whipstock having a deflecting face, a carriage movable longitudinally along said face and a boring tool rotatable on the carriage, said carriage being arranged to hold the tool out of contact with said face as the tool ro tates.

11. In combination, a whipstock having a deflecting face formed with a track, a stop at the upper end of the track, a tool carriage connected to and mounted to move along the track, a boring tool rotatable on the carriage and engageable therewith upon upward movement ofthe tool to move the carriage upwardly into engagement with the stop whereb upon further upward movement of the tool the whipstock and tool are simultaneously removed from the well.

12. In combination, a whipstock shaped to be lowered into a well and having a deecting face formed with a track and having a stop at its lower end, a tool carriage movable along the track, a boring tool rotatable on the carriage, said carriage being arranged to hold the tool out of contact with said face as the tool rotates and moves downwardly, said stop being arranged to arrest the downward movement of the carriage, the tool being mounted to move further downwardly, relative to the carriage upon the arrest of such downward movement of the carriage.

CECIL C. CUTRER. JOSEPH LEROY BROUSSARD.

Cil 

